NYC: See Yourself on a Times Square Billboard for 24 Hours

A photo of your child, partner, parent, or whole group appears on a giant screen in the middle of Times Square, repeating every hour for 24 hours. That is the entire attraction, but the setting does the heavy lifting. You get a genuine New York photo opportunity without hiring a photographer or arranging a formal celebration. I especially like the 24-hour run and the option to share a livestream with people who could not make the trip.

I also like the flexible format. One ticket can cover a group photo with no stated limit on the number of people in the image, while separate tickets let each person submit a different photo or video. The main catch is the short display time: 15 seconds passes quickly, and a busy Times Square crowd can make the billboard difficult to find or film at the exact moment.

Key points at a glance

• 15 seconds every hour for 24 hours: Your image appears repeatedly, with 22 guaranteed showings in case of technical trouble.
• Exact Times Square location: Find the screen at 1560 Broadway, above the Pelé store and opposite the TKTS red steps.
• One image can include a whole group: Use one ticket for a shared photo, or buy separate tickets for individual displays.
• Custom message and frame: Add a celebration frame and a short line of text to your photo or video.
• Livestream for people at home: Friends and family can watch online from anywhere.
• Best for birthdays and surprises: Children’s birthdays, milestone celebrations, engagements, anniversaries, and memorial tributes suit this experience especially well.

What the Times Square billboard experience really is

This is not a guided sightseeing tour. There is no walking route, commentary, or host leading you through Midtown. Instead, you buy a scheduled digital display and create the content yourself.

After booking, you use the code supplied after purchase to upload one photo or video. You can also choose a custom frame, such as a birthday, congratulations, or marriage proposal design, and add a short line of text. Once the file is accepted and your time is assigned, the image appears for 15 seconds every hour on your selected date.

That setup makes the experience simple, but it also means the quality of your result depends on the file you submit. A clear, tightly framed image will work better than a dark photo with tiny faces. One family used a collage of six pictures and found that the screen was large enough for the images to remain clear. Still, keep your design bold and easy to read from the street.

The display is placed above the Pelé store at 1560 Broadway, between 46th and 47th Streets. It sits directly across from the TKTS red steps, a useful landmark in an area where bright signs and tall buildings can make simple directions feel surprisingly vague.

Uploading your photo or video before the show

Your booking is not fully secured until you submit the photo or video. This is the most important practical detail. Do not assume that paying for the experience automatically reserves your preferred display date. Upload the file promptly using the code you receive after purchase.

You can change the file later, but only if you request the change at least 24 hours before the display date and the original file has not yet appeared. That gives you some room to correct a mistake, swap in a better birthday photo, or replace a video that did not look right. It does not give you unlimited last-minute editing time.

File rules are strict. The image or video cannot contain watermarks, brands, logos, nudity, smoking, or vulgar material. Advertising-style content, QR codes, links, and material that resembles an advertisement can also be rejected. Social media links from independent professionals and freelancers are specifically not accepted.

Think of your submission as a personal celebration, not a small commercial. A family portrait, birthday message, engagement photo, or tribute fits the purpose. A business logo or promotional video does not.

Choosing between one group image and separate tickets

For a family or friend group, one shared image is the most economical approach. The information provided places no cap on the number of people who can appear in a single photo, so one ticket can cover a large group image. This works well for a family birthday, a wedding party, or a group celebrating an engagement in New York.

The drawback is that everyone must appear in the same frame. If you want each person to have a separate moment, you need one ticket per person and one photo or video for each display. That can become costly at $150 per person, but it creates a more personal result.

I would use one group photo for a shared surprise and separate tickets only when the individual moment matters. A parent honoring one child, for example, may prefer one clear portrait rather than a crowded family collage. For a couple, a single well-composed engagement or anniversary photo usually makes more sense than two separate uploads.

The screen can handle a collage, but tiny images and long messages may be hard to appreciate from the street. If you choose several pictures, use strong contrast and large faces. The billboard is big, yet Times Square is also big, bright, and visually noisy.

Finding 1560 Broadway in the middle of Times Square

The billboard is in a very central location, but central does not always mean easy to spot. Use the TKTS red steps as your main reference point. The screen is directly across from them, above the Pelé store at 1560 Broadway, between 46th and 47th Streets.

Several people found the area harder to navigate than expected because Times Square is crowded and the surrounding buildings can confuse map directions. Plan to arrive early enough to locate the screen before your display time. You do not need to spend the entire day there, but finding the correct building and getting a clear viewing position may take longer than expected.

The location is accessible from Broadway and the activity is wheelchair accessible. There is no transport or meeting transfer involved. You make your own way to the screen, which keeps the arrangement easy but puts the responsibility for timing and navigation on you.

Once you find the billboard, decide where you want to stand before the next hourly showing. Times Square crowds shift constantly, and a good viewing spot can disappear quickly. If you are filming the moment, have your phone ready before the image appears.

Why the 15-second display works, and where it falls short

Fifteen seconds is enough to recognize a face, read a short message, and take a quick video. It is not long enough for a complicated presentation. If you want a strong recording, start filming a little before the scheduled moment and keep the camera pointed at the screen through the end.

The display repeats once every hour for 24 hours, which is the feature that makes the price easier to justify. You do not have to catch the first appearance. You can see it in the afternoon, return after dark, or watch several times during a day in Midtown.

The timing can be inconvenient. One booking began at 1 a.m. on the first day, which made it difficult to watch in person after a long day in New York. Check the assigned time carefully and remember that the display time is based on New York time. One person from the Midwest nearly misread the schedule because New York was an hour ahead.

You are guaranteed 22 showings within the 24-hour period in case of technical difficulties. That is reassuring, but it does not change the basic reality: you should not expect a continuous billboard feature or a 30-second video. This is a brief appearance repeated many times, not a private screen takeover.

Watching it in person and online

Seeing your own image above one of the world’s most famous public squares is the emotional center of the experience. It works best when the person being surprised does not know what to expect. A child may suddenly see their face over the street, or a parent may realize that a birthday photo is being shown to thousands of people around them.

The live stream adds a useful second layer. You can send the assigned time to relatives and friends at home, allowing them to watch the same display online. This proved especially meaningful for family tributes, including one memorial display shared with relatives in different places.

The online feed is helpful, but do not rely on it as your only way to view the image. Glare can make the screen hard to see through a web camera, particularly during the day. The in-person view gives you the full Times Square setting, while the online version is best for sharing the event with people who are not in New York.

If your main goal is a clean recording, ask someone in your group to film while you watch. A single person trying to watch, react, photograph, and record may miss part of the 15-second window.

Custom frames and messages that read clearly

You can choose one custom frame for each photo. Options include standard designs and messages for birthdays, congratulations, or marriage proposals. You can also add a short line of text within the image or video.

Keep the wording short. Times Square is not the place for a paragraph. A name, age, date, or brief congratulations message will be easier to read than a long personal note. If your photo already contains text, make sure it is large and uncluttered.

The frame is a useful touch because it gives the display a clear purpose. A plain family photo may feel like a novelty, while a birthday or engagement frame tells the person being surprised why their image is on the screen. For a memorial, a simple photo with restrained text may carry more weight than an elaborate design.

You should also choose a photo with faces close enough to see. A distant group shot may look good in a family album but lose its impact on a public screen. A bright portrait, a high-contrast collage, or a short video with one clear subject is the safer choice.

The best occasions for this $150 experience

At $150 per person, this is not an inexpensive add-on to a New York sightseeing day. Its value comes from the occasion, not from the number of minutes on screen. If you are buying a routine souvenir, a Times Square photo costs less. If you are marking a milestone, the display can feel far more personal.

The strongest uses include:

• A child’s 10th, 13th, 16th, or 18th birthday
• A surprise for a partner or spouse
• An engagement during a bachelorette or couples trip
• A parent’s milestone birthday
• A family anniversary
• A memorial tribute shared with relatives
• A group celebration where everyone appears in one photo

The experience has worked particularly well for children and teenagers. Seeing a daughter’s face on the screen made several birthday celebrations feel unusual and memorable. It also suits adults who enjoy a public surprise, though someone who dislikes attention may find the moment overwhelming.

For a group, the price can be more reasonable if you use one ticket for one shared photo. For individual displays, calculate the total before booking. Four separate tickets would cost $600, and the extra expense only makes sense if each person needs a distinct appearance.

Timing your visit around the 24-hour window

You do not need to plan a full day around the billboard. Treat it as an hourly appointment that you can fit around other Midtown activities. Since the screen is near the TKTS red steps, you can combine the visit with theater planning, shopping, or a walk through Times Square.

Still, allow extra time for the first visit. Finding the exact screen, getting through the crowd, and choosing a place to stand are all easier if you arrive before the assigned showing. Once you know the location, later visits should be simpler.

An evening showing may be more dramatic because the screen is easier to see against the darker sky, and the surrounding signs add to the setting. Daytime can be better for clear personal photos, but glare may affect online viewing. If your schedule allows, seeing the display both during the day and at night gives you two different versions of the same moment.

Do not assume the first showing is the only meaningful one. The repeated schedule is useful because one person may miss the first appearance while another is still eating dinner, sleeping, or crossing town. Just check the exact assigned time and date carefully.

Booking flexibility and accessibility

The activity is valid for one day, with availability and starting times shown during booking. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and you can reserve now while paying later. Those terms help if your New York plans are still shifting.

The billboard can be accessed from Broadway, and the experience is wheelchair accessible. Since there is no guided group, vehicle, or fixed walking route, you control how long you remain at the location. The only fixed element is the scheduled display time.

The date details deserve a careful check. Keep the confirmation email and voucher together, then verify that the display date and time match. A date discrepancy can create needless confusion, especially if you are planning a surprise.

Who should book it, and who should skip it

I would recommend this for someone marking a real occasion, especially a birthday, engagement, anniversary, or family tribute. It is also a good choice when friends and relatives at home want to share the moment through the livestream.

It is less suitable if you want a guided Times Square experience, a long performance, or a polished private video production. You must provide the image, upload it on time, find the screen yourself, and work within a 15-second display. Someone who dislikes public attention may also prefer a quieter celebration.

The experience is strongest when the surprise matters more than the technical details. A child seeing their face on the screen, a parent recognizing a tribute, or a partner discovering a birthday message can make those 15 seconds feel much longer.

Should you book this Times Square billboard experience?

Book it if you want a personal New York surprise and have a clear occasion to celebrate. The repeating 24-hour schedule, custom frame, short message, and online livestream give you more flexibility than a one-time display. One group ticket can also make the cost manageable for a shared photo.

Skip it if $150 feels high for a brief digital appearance or if you expect a long video, a guide, or a private viewing area. Submit your file early, check New York time, arrive before the scheduled showing, and keep your camera ready. With those details handled, this can turn an ordinary Times Square stop into a memorable family story.

FAQ

How long does the photo or video appear on the billboard?

Your photo or video appears for 15 seconds every hour over a 24-hour period on the selected date.

Where is the billboard located?

It is at 1560 Broadway between 46th and 47th Streets, above the Pelé store and directly across from the TKTS red steps.

Can a whole group appear with one ticket?

Yes. One ticket can be used for a group photo, and there is no stated limit on the number of people who can appear in one image.

Do I need separate tickets for individual photos?

Yes. If each person wants to submit a separate photo or video, you need one ticket per person.

Can I add a message to the display?

Yes. You can add a short line of text and choose one custom frame for each photo. Available frame styles include birthday, congratulations, and marriage proposal options.

Can friends and family watch from home?

Yes. You can share the assigned time with friends and family, and they can watch the display through the online livestream.

When is my display time confirmed?

You receive confirmation of your assigned time slot within 24 hours. Your slot is not reserved until you submit your photo or video.

Can I change my photo or video after uploading it?

Yes, but the change must be requested at least 24 hours before the display date, and the original photo or video must not have appeared on the billboard.

What content will be rejected?

Files cannot include watermarks, brands, logos, nudity, smoking, or vulgarity. Logos, QR codes, links, advertising-style material, and social media links from independent professionals or freelancers can also be declined.